'Brown Kelps'

NFS

Today's painting is very much a 'brown rock pool' study. If you ever wondered why the 'Old Masters' paintings look so dull and dark - here is an illustration of a painting completed with a similar limited Earth pigment palette. I painted this piece using just yellow ochre, burnt sienna, mars black, and titanium white. For the botanists amongst us, there are kelps and serrated wracks to the right ;-)

[If you click on the painting it will enlarge and reveal my brushwork]

'Birds and Binoculars'

NFS

Today I have blogged another drawing rather than a painting - a composition of eggs, bird books, binoculars, and that glass of dry salty sherry ;-). May all my Blog followers and family have a good weekend - could be a good one, it's so nice and bright for a change.

'Watch those Birdies'

NFS

A late night paint in an extended palette......... and a bit of a struggle. Apologies for the shine on the canvas - oils still very oily ;-) Just want to say thanks for the enthusiasm Coleman's artshop gave me today for my Blog, and a big thank you to all my followers.

'Beautiful Bees'

NFS

A little study from a photograph using the vivid primary palette again [cadmium yellow, ultramarine, quinacridone red, white]. Such pretty little birds - tomorrow they will be painted again in a larger palette of colours, to reveal their true beauty.

'Behind the Painting'

NFS

I am putting in a still life drawing today instead of a painting. Drawing and painting and very different from each other - drawing provides the parameters or lines for form - it is the skill of the painter to translate a 3D illusion of form from hues, values and brushwork. This is my challenge ;-) a step away from drawing glassware diagrams too!

'Sweeter Cherries'

NFS

A study using the same pigment palette as yesterday, with the addition of viridian. A simpler subject and a better grip with the hues - now I shall eat my lovely dark cherries ;-)

'Halo Cat'

NFS

A study in acrylics from the last time that I was painting regularly - this was a very special little tortoishell cat [Halo] who just loved cockles and would hide under beds just to be 'roly polyed' out. I will get painting tomorrow with fresh paint ;-).



'Secret Garden'

NFS

Today I have been wrestling with another simple palette painting [a copy of yesterday's paint in a more vibrant palette], so to break the element of repetition I am posting a lovely door in the centre of Malvern. This is a monochrome of 5 values completed in acrylics. I am thrilled that the artist Raymond Logan is going to add me to his american listing of daily painters :-) I will start to sell paintings from May 2011 and exhibit locally, but for now it is back to my studies and 'raising my game' as a painter. For my 'painter followers' if you click on the image it is linked to the original and will enlarge for you to inspect my brushwork.

'Nuthatch Hideaway'

NFS

This is a very special part of my daily hillwalk, more especially in the spring, when the lovely nuthatch nest in the tree trunk on the right. They nest in the carved out holes, where branches have long been removed. This is a painting using just 5 dull primaries for the palette.

'Café Lady'

NFS

This is another acrylic painting  ............ a 'Hopper' 5 value observation. I completed this last year as a VAA study. It worked, and I'm very fond of her gaze [small 1 hour study on a linen panel in 5 values].

'Forwards to Spring'

NFS

This is an acrylic painting using colour to turn form.

'Blue Shoes'

NFS

Playing with colour/hue and form today, down to some serious painting tomorrow................................;-)

'Sharp Lemon'

NFS

This is a study completed about the same time as the previous posting [acrylic Block study]. It was completed in 30 minutes using a very large brush and a limited palette. I am going to paint some studies from photographs over the next few days, because natural light is far from good in January.  The rock pool photos are sourced from a good friend [way back to our student days] who is an excellent Devon based photographer - you will find some of her copyrighted work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/harebrush/

'Bright Sunny Blocks'

NFS

This is an earlier painting of blocks when I was studying just hues, rather than the values and hues in relation to coloured light hitting that face. It was painted on linen using acrylics - I am rather fond of this one, although it isn't 'theoretically correct'. May you all have a good weekend.

'Shell Bay Treasures'

NFS

This is the final version completed this evening in a second attempt - and I am much happier with the outcome - it is a combination of still life [shells stuck with blu tack on my easel and my imagination].

'Seashore Studies'

NFS

NFS

The shell paintings from yesterday [and the blobbiness of the smaller shells] made me seek out some old drawings and water colour tinted work from my portfolio. I have rubbed out the blobbiness of the previous post and plan to re-work the shells after some more detailed drawing studies tomorrow. Time to reflect about the painting and detail.

'Tête-à-Tête'

NFS

The red peppers are showing their last appearance in spotlight this evening - another case of the 'wet paint' image, but this time in oils. It is only day 2 of their use, so still very much on the starting blocks. Thank you for emails from those I studied with and those I've taught - much appreciated in terms of self confidence. More challenges with blocks tomorrow ;-)

'Blocked Hues'

NFS

Today's post is the product of really thinking more carefully about what  am painting, the play of hue and value, and remaining focussed. It is also my first oil painting since I  was 18.............. a long long time ago ;-) I have had such fear about handling the paint - but actually it offers so much more, and is far more forgiving than acrylics.



'Back to School'

Today I have to go one step beyond value planes [light and shade] and also convey the physics of light and reflected lights - yes it's blue light yellow surface light and shade, yellow light red surface light and shade - metaphorically like playing a familiar tune on a keyboard with both hands, rather than just the right. Time to think and study, with longer painting time. So here is where I'm heading................................. coloured blocks tomorrow ;-)

'The Long and The Short'

NFS



A late night post.......... and a quick daub, and also wet paint for the camera. This is a steep learning curve about the best time, place, and keeping a calm mind for painting? Hopefully more detail and time tomorrow. It is also time to clean my brushes. I have my oil paints now, so this weekend will be time to explore the more painterly approach.

'Red Pepper solo'

NFS

I feel it is time to move on from the 'browns' of autumn.......... now I will embrace the colours of fruits and vegetables, and start to dabble a bit with those oils over the next month. I am also a student on a 3 year art course, and so there will also be postings from my Virtual Art Academy assignments.

'All Aboard'

NFS



This collection from my 'winter harvest' of pocket items is set against a reflective surface - of a rather smart wine carrier ;-). We do still have the wine. Unfortunately the image does not show the true blueness of the original.

'Festive Fruits Reflect'

NFS

Family and friends know that wherever I walk I love to put 'special treasures' from nature in my jacket pockets. These were a few nuts and an oak leaf found hidden in my blue coat pocket which I placed on a mirror...... et voila after an hour this is what I have. I am still working in acrylics and will soon have my Christmas present oils to steadily adapt to. Happy New Year 2011 to both my followers and readers.